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7 Jan 2008 : Column 35W—continued
Defence: Lobbying
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is in place for (a) his officials and (b) officials at (i) the Defence Suppliers Service and (ii) Defence Equipment and Support Organisation on meetings with lobbyists employed by defence contractors. [174788]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: No specific guidance is issued to MOD officials regarding the meeting of lobbyists employed by defence contractors. However, all MOD Crown servants (including members of the armed forces) are expected to conduct themselves at meetings with representatives of defence contractors in accordance with MOD policy on the acceptance of gifts, rewards and hospitality and the civil service code.
Defence: Procurement
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each of the last four years the principal items of military equipment acquired under the Urgent Operational Requirements procedures which have been transferred to his Department’s budget; when they were so transferred; and what proportion of Urgent Operational Requirements acquired equipment in the 2007-08 financial year he expects to be charged to his Department’s budget in 2007-08. [164657]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: When there is an enduring requirement for Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) equipment, it is brought into the core defence programme. This is usually at the end of the operation. Continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan mean that we have not yet brought a significant number of UORs into core.
UORs brought into core have only been recorded centrally by MOD since 2005. Principal UORs taken into core since 2005 include enhanced armour and environment modifications for Challenger II; AS90 environmental enhancement to operate in extreme hot, dry conditions; tactical Global Positioning Systems; Helmet Mounted Night Vision Systems; and additional weapons stocks.
We have not yet taken decisions on UORs to be brought into our core programme in the current financial year as the planning round has not yet concluded.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on spare parts for equipment by (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force in each of the last five financial years. [174238]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The total defence equipment and support (DE&S) expenditure on capital spares additions in each of the last four financial years (to the nearest £ million) is provided in the following table. Individual capital account codes did not exist within the Department’s financial systems prior to Financial Year 2003-04. Previous information for Financial Year 2002-03 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| £ million | |
The breakdown by Front Line Command for Financial Years 2005-06 and 2006-07 is given in the following table. Information broken down for Financial Years 2003-04 and 2004-05 (to the required accuracy) could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| £ million | ||
| Service | 2005-06 | 2006-07 |
It should be noted that these figures do not include any expenditure for non-balance sheet low value spare parts for equipment.
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria have to be fulfilled for a would-be defence supplier to become a prime contractor; and how a decision on the matter is made. [175041]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In response to business need, the Department assesses any potential supplier's eligibility against a number of standard objective criteria including capability, quality, financial and legal status, organisation, and supply chain management. The potential supplier is also assessed against project-specific criteria pertinent to the particular requirement.
Departmental Assets
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what total value of (a) land and (b) facilities is surplus to his Department’s foreseeable purposes in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has to dispose of such assets. [176656]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence keeps its estate, including that in Northern Ireland, under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements. Land and property that is no longer required is disposed of as quickly as possible.
It is the Department’s normal policy to dispose of such surplus assets at market value in accordance with the guidance set out in “Managing Public Money”.
Sites are disposed of by means of a competitive process in order to ensure best value for defence. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to release expected receipts as it might impact on future negotiations with potential purchasers.
A list of all sites currently in disposal is available in the Library of the House.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total value of (a) land and (b) facilities gifted, donated or loaned to local community initiatives by his Department was in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years. [176657]
Derek Twigg: The gifting of land and facilities over £100,000 (£250,000 since 1 April 2005) requires the approval of HM Treasury and Parliament. Details of gifts below that level are not held centrally. Since 1997 the following value of gifts of land and facilities, in support of local community initiatives, have been reported in the departmental accounts following approval by Parliament:
| £ million | |
The MOD does not loan facilities for local community initiatives except in so far as these constitute welfare facilities for the armed forces. Any land and facilities that are surplus to defence requirements are disposed of in accordance with “Managing Public Money” issued by HM Treasury.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what total value of his Department’s (a) land and (b) buildings was sold in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years. [176658]
Derek Twigg: This Department does not keep a separate record of the value raised from the sale of land and buildings in each region of the UK and such a breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the total accrued disposal receipts for each year since 1998-99 (the earliest year available) were as follows:
| Financial year | £ million |
These figures are taken from the Defence Estates annual reports and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanism exists for liaison between his Department and the Northern Ireland Office when considering disposal of departmental (a) land and (b) buildings in Northern Ireland. [176659]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is required to obtain market value when disposing of surplus assets. In Northern Ireland all surplus MOD assets are advised to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFM/DFM) at the earliest opportunity. OFM/DFM circulates details to Northern Ireland Government Departments.
We have also committed to adhere to the “clearing house” process used by Northern Ireland Government Departments under which details of surplus MOD assets are circulated to Northern Ireland Government Departments and agencies. This process is managed by the Central Advisory Unit (CAU) of Land and Property Services. Northern Ireland Government Departments and agencies may register interest through the CAU who notifies MOD accordingly.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of community cohesion when considering the disposal of departmental (a) land and (b) buildings in Northern Ireland. [176660]
Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence is required to obtain market value when disposing of surplus assets, and follows procedures laid down in “Managing Public Money’ and particular processes applicable to Northern Ireland. The Department works closely with the Northern Ireland Office when disposing of surplus assets to allow other Northern Ireland Government Departments and agencies to express an interest. We also work closely with the local authorities and other key stakeholders when considering its disposal strategy and the most appropriate alternative use, taking into account the requirements of the local community. This will often include an assessment of development and regeneration opportunities through the preparation of a planning brief or outline planning application which can be taken forward by prospective purchasers.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider gifting his Department's land and facilities to local communities to promote inter-community cohesion initiatives. [176812]
Derek Twigg: Land and facilities that are surplus to defence requirements are disposed of in accordance with HM Treasury's "Managing Public Money" guidance. Any gifting with a value in excess of £250,000 requires both Treasury and parliamentary approval.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since 2000; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result; [172228]
(2) how many air miles were travelled by (a) the Secretary of State and (b) other Ministers in his Department on short haul flights over the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights. [172455]
Derek Twigg: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
In addition, offsetting the flights of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development, and the Prime Minister has been backdated to 1 April 2005.
A list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
Departmental Coordination
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2007, Official Report, column 309W, on Departmental Coordination, on what date his Department was consulted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [176152]
Des Browne: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer of 11 December 2007, Official Report, column 395W.
Departmental Equality
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by his Department (a) in total and (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose. [173843]
Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Expenditure Limits
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), for what reasons he plans to transfer £70 million from voted capital departmental expenditure limit to non-voted near cash resource departmental expenditure limit; and if he will make a statement. [175445]
Derek Twigg: The transfer of £70 million from voted capital departmental expenditure limit to non-voted near cash resource departmental expenditure limit relates to a planned increase in the cash release of provisions. Under arrangements agreed in the 2004 spending review, increases in the cash release of provisions (which score as non-voted DEL) are offset against voted near cash provision.
Departmental Finance
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will break down his Department's RfR1 near cash resource expenditure by (a) value and (b) standard industrial classification for each financial year since 2001-02; [176293]
(2) if he will break down his Department's RfR1 capital expenditure by (a) value and (b) standard industrial classification for each financial year since 2001-02. [176294]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: Estimates of aggregate MOD cash expenditure in UK industry and commerce, by standard industrial classification (SIC), are published in the annual United Kingdom Defence Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This analysis, however, is not fully compatible with the Treasury RfR framework, as it measures only cash expenditure and excludes non-cash costs such as depreciation; it includes both capital and resource expenditure; and it does not cover expenditure overseas incurred by the Department. It is likely also to include expenditure which may be claimed under RfR2 (Conflict Prevention). Identification of RfRl near cash expenditure by SIC could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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